Portable sign frame



Oct. 20, 1931.

F. BENNETT ET AL PORTABLE SIGN FRAME Filed April 23 1930 2 Sheets-SheetOct. 20, 1931. N TT ET AL 1,828,239

PORTABLE 5 IGN FRAME Filed April 23 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,2 fly 13 flaw58,21 952. /2@ 192cm; jf/sgg wgz /5 eys.

Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK BENNETT ANDHOWARD T. HALLOW'ELL, OF JENKINTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO STANDARDPRESSED STEEL 60., F JENKINTOVIN, PENNSYLVANIA,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA PORTABLE SIGN FRAME Application filedApril 23,

Our invention relates to certain improvements in portable signs, of thetype having a frame in which the sign can be placed and in which supportfor the sign can be of the rocking or non-rocking type as desired. Thesign is particularly adapted to be used on the pavement to advertise thesale of certain commodities. This type of sign has to be made at lowcost, yet must withstand the rough usage to which it is subjected.

One object of our invention is to make a very substantial sign of thistype at low cost.

A further object of the invention is to pivot the feet of the sign tothe mainframe,

so that one bolt of each foot can be removed and each foot turned uponthe other bolt as a pivot, so as to uncover the slot in the lowerportion of the frame for the insertion or removal of the sign. It willbe understood that sign frames of this type will be so designed thatdifierent signs can be readily placed in the frame or removed therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to so design the frame thatthe feet, when in position, will retain the sign within the frame.

These objects are attained in the following manner, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of our improved portable sign;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the sign inverted and the feetturned on the pivots, so as to expose the slot in the bottom of theframe to allow for the insertion of the sum;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the sign with the feet in position;

Fig. 1 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 44:, Fig. 1, showingthe heavy lower bars of the frame;

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the feet reversed to form rockers, as insome instances these frames are designed so as to rock with the wind;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6,

Fig. 1 of the side frame;

Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of one of the corner brackets;

Figs. 8. 9 and 10 are sectional views of other forms of the side frame;

1930. Serial No. 446,721.

Figs. 11 to 16 are views illustrating modifications of the supportinglegs;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a modified form of frame; and

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan view of one side of the frame shown in Fig.17.

1 is a rectangular frame bent into shape. The two sides 22 and the top 3are made in the form of channels as shown in Fig. 6, the flanges 4 ofthe channel members extending inwardly and spaced apart for theinsertion of a sign a. The bottom member 5 of the frame is made of twoheavy bars 5a, 5a, Fig. 4, which are spaced apart to allow for theinsertion of the sign. The members of the frame are welded together inthe present instance, although they may be otherwise secured. Vhile twosolid bars rectangular in cross-section form the bottom member and whichare of suflicient strength to give stiffness to the entire structure,the bars may in some instances be channel bars, and one may be heavy andthe other may be comparatively light, without departing from theessential features of the invention.

Brackets 6 are secured to each lower corner of the frame, preferably bywelding, and each bracket has a socket member 7 which fits around theedge of the side frames. Project ing from the socket member are wings8.which are perforated at 9 for the passage of securing bolts 10 and 11.12-12 are the legs which support the frame. These legs are of sulficientlength to prevent the frame tipping and in the present instance areformed of channel shapes and are preferably curved as shown, so as toraise the bottom of the frame above the pavement or the floor. Each legis secured to a bracket- 6 by two bolts 10 and 11, which pass throughthe holes 9 in the brackets. Vhen both bolts are in position, the frameis held rigidly on the legs. It will be noticed that the legs are ofsuflicient width and are so located that when they are in the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 3, they extend under the edges of the slot betweenthe bars of thelower member 5 of the frame, and act to retain the sign ain position in the frame.

When it is wished to renew or change the sign, the sign is inverted asshown in Fig. 100

2 and the bolts 11l1 on one side of the frame are removed, then the legsare turned on the bolts 10 as pivots to the position shown in Fig. \Vhenin this position the legs are at one side of the opening between themembers 5a of the frame, so that the sign a can be readily removed fromthe frame and another sign placed in position, after which the legs arereturned to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the two bolts 11 inserted,firmly securing the legs to the frame.

In some instances where the frame is to be used as a rocking frame, thelegs 12 may be inverted as in Fig. 5, so that they become rockers whichallow the frame to rock with the wind. The side members and top members:2 and 3 of the frame may be made in other shapes than that shown inFig. 6.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views showing different shapes which may be usedfor the side members and top member. While we prefer to use channelmembers bent as shown in Fig. 1 to form legs, the legs may be made fromflat bars 1211 as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the

= central portion of the legs being curved and the ends bent to formfeet 13, or the legs may be formed of angle bars shown at 12b in Figs.13 and 14 and bent and flared at each end to form feet 130, or the legsmay be formed of angle bars 120 as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, thejunction of the angles being at the center of the leg and the bar beingstraightened at each end to form feet 13?).

In the form shown in Figs. 17 and 18 the legs are secured to the frameby vertical bolts. each leg in this instance turning horizontally on oneof the bolts to allow a sign to be removed from or inserted in theframe.

We claim 1. The combination in a portable sign of a. frame having sidemembers and a top member in the form of channels, the flanges of thechannels extending inwardly and spacedapart to form guides for a sign,the bot-tom member of the sign being made of two bars spaced apart forthe passage of the sign; brackets secured to the lower end of the frame:and a leg at each side of the frame and secured to the brackets saidlegs closing the ends of the space between the two bars forming thebottom member of the sign, and

actinv to lock the sign in the frame.

2. &he combination in a frame, of side members and a top member shapedto form channels for a sign; bars spaced apart forming the lower memberof the frame; brackets secured to each lower corner of the frame; twoholes in each bracket spaced apart; two legs having holes thereincorresponding to the holes in the bracket; and bolts securing the frameto the legs, one bolt on each side being-removable so that the legs canbe turned on the other bolts as pivots to clear the channel in the lowermember of the frame to allow for the withdrawal or replacement of a signin the frame, the legs locking the sign in the frame when in normalposition.

3. The combination in a portable sign, of a frame having channeled sidemembers and a top member, the channels having inwardly pro ectingflanges spaced apart to form guides for a sign; a ottom member of theframe made of two bars spaced apart; brackets at each lower corner ofthe frame, said brackets having wings with bolt holes therein, the holesbeing located at a given distance beyond the sides of the sign;channeled legs having bolt holes therein; and bolts connecting the le sto the brackets so that one bolt on each si e can be removed to allowthe legs to turn on the other bolts as pivots to expose the slot betweenthe bars of the lower member of the frame, to allow for the insertion orwithdrawal of the sign, the legs when in the normal position locking thesign in the frame.

4. A portable sign comprising a rectangular frame three sides of whichare in the form of channel members having their channels inwardlydisposed, the fourth side of which is in the form of spaced channelelements, between which asign may be inserted into the frame and itsedges engaged by the channels of the first-mentioned sides; legs at eachside of the frame; pivots for the legs arranged a at one side of theslot formed by the spaced channel elements: and means for securing thelegs in position to support the frame and to retai n the sign withintheframe, the legs when turned on their pivots being at one side of theframe so that the sign can be inserted or removed fromthe frame.

FRANK BENNETT.

HO'VVARD T. HALLOVELL.

rcz.

